Yesterday morning, I went to the Don Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. for the official book launching of "Argao: In search of a usable past" by author Paul Gerschwiler, a Swiss National who married a Cebuano and eventually lived in Argao. Kudos to both, Mr. Jon and Bobby Aboitiz and the RAFI staff for their relentless effort to promote the rich heritage of our Cebuano past.
You may find it odd that foreigners are more interested in what Cebu once had, but browsing this book on Argao makes me feel good about being a Cebuano. While Argao is 60 kilometers south of Cebu City, it too had a great pre-colonial history, which was very well presented in this coffee table book. Kudos to Mr. Paul Gerschwiler for presenting to us the book on Argao and to RAFI for publishing this book, which would not be part and parcel of Cebu's rich cultural heritage.
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Finally, the widow of the late Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo, Rep. Leni Robredo has accepted to be the vice-presidential candidate of former DILG Sec. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II. No doubt Pres. PNoy Aquino and Roxas are extremely elated that Leni finally agreed to seek a higher office. While I submit that Leni is a good choice, however, the members of the Liberal Party must stop attacking Sen. Grace Poe and telling the world that she is a political neophyte or "hilaw" because Leni Robredo is not even a senator and therefore she is just too "hilaw" for the position that she is running for.
As many pundits have already pointed out, with Leni in the vice-presidential race, it puts a total of four Bicolanos vying for this number two slot in the 2016 presidential elections. Apparently, the United Nationalists Alliance has already picked up Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan as the vice-presidential bet of Vice-President Jejomar Binay. He also comes from Bicol. Sen. Chiz Escudero whom Sen. Grace Poe chose as her running mate is also from Sorsogon, which is part of the Bicol region. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who also threw his hat into the vice-presidential race is also a Bicolano.
What does this situation tell you? That the voters in Bicol are going to get confused as to whom they should be voting for vice-president? With Robredo, Honasan, Trillanes, Cayetano and finally Sen. Bong Bong Marcos in the vice-presidential race, this will be one of the most interesting elections that we would all be watching. So the question is, whom will the PCOS bless?
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My good friend, Atty. Marco Tomakin who practices his legal profession in Albany, in the State of New York emailed this announcement from the US Department of Homeland Security that could benefit Filipino World War II Veterans and their families. Here's the message in full.
"On October 2, 2015, the United States Department of Homeland Security upon which the US Citizenship and Immigration Services is attached issued an announcement creating a parole program to allow certain family members of Filipino and Filipino-American World War II veterans to receive parole to come to the United States. This program may enable these eligible family members to provide support and care to their aging veteran members who are US citizens or lawful permanent residents.
In July 2015, the White House issued a report entitled, "Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century" where it traces and recognizes the remarkable contributions of Filipino Americans who served in the US military during World War II. Estimates indicate that there are approximately 6,000 Filipino American World War II veterans who are still alive in the US today, many of whom require the care and assistance of their families and greatly desire to have their family members in the United States during their final days.
It is through this parole program that this humanitarian goal is realized, which gives DHS discretion, on a case by case basis to permit individuals to come to the United States for a temporary period of time based upon urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit. Parole does not give the individual any permanent right to remain in the United States.
It needs to be strongly emphasized to the readers that this program is not yet in place. Thus, they cannot apply yet at this time. The Us Department of Homeland Security, will have to issue its implementing rules and guidelines on how this program is to be implemented. Any applications received as of this time will be denied. Also, please be mindful of immigration scams. It is during the early stages of beneficial programs like this that the unknowing and unsuspecting public easily falls prey to scammers and fraudsters. I will keep you posted for any new updates pertaining to this program."
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For email responses to this article, write to vsbobita@mozcom.com. or vsbobita@gmail.com. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.